Expanding the scope of the crackdown on immigrants and individuals looking to migrate to the United States seeking better employment and education opportunities, the Trump administration made the US visa-vetting system stricter. The US State Department announced that all H1B workers and their H-4 dependents must undergo social media screening. The decision was implemented on December 15.&nbsp;&nbsp;“As of December 15, the Department will expand the requirement that an online presence review be conducted for all H-1B applicants and their dependents, in addition to the students and exchange visitors already subject to this review. To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for H-1B and their dependents (H-4), F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to “public,” according to a US State Department press release.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/should-us-end-h-1b-programme-know-what-elon-musk-thinks-about-indian-immigrants-donald-trump-elon-musk-tesla-immigration-indian-immigration-us-1764519420595">Should US end H-1B programme? Know what Elon Musk thinks about Indian immigrants</a>&nbsp;The State Department stressed that it will use all the available information about an applicant in the visa screening and vetting process “We conduct thorough vetting of all visa applicants, including online presence review of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications.” Explaining the rationale behind the move, the State Department said the system is designed to bolster national security while keeping the integrity of the visa system intact.&nbsp;&nbsp;The US Embassy in India in June warned visa applicants against cleaning their social media profiles “Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas,” the embassy said on X.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jordan-crown-prince-personally-chauffeurs-pm-modi-to-national-museum-diplomacy-pm-modi-africa-pm-modi-on-foreign-visits-1765891284302">Jordan Crown Prince personally chauffeurs PM Modi to national museum</a>&nbsp;The decision came amid the ongoing crackdown on immigration by the Trump administration, the US President imposed stricter conditions on the H1B visa programme, making it difficult for job seekers to enter the United States. Beginning September 1, US employers seeking to hire foreign professionals in specialised occupations have to pay $1 lakh supplemental fee for new workers. &nbsp;

The US Department of State has mandated an online presence review for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, a requirement took effect from December 15, as part of expanded screening measures.

Expanding the scope of the crackdown on immigrants and individuals looking to migrate to the United States seeking better employment and education opportunities, the Trump administration made the US visa-vetting system stricter. The US State Department announced that all H1B workers and their H-4 dependents must undergo social media screening. The decision was implemented on December 15. “As of December 15, the Department will expand the requirement that an online presence review be conducted for all H-1B applicants and their dependents, in addition to the students and exchange visitors already subject to this review. To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for H-1B and their dependents (H-4), F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to “public,” according to a US State Department press release. Also Read: Should US end H-1B programme? Know what Elon Musk thinks about Indian immigrants The State Department stressed that it will use all the available information about an applicant in the visa screening and vetting process “We conduct thorough vetting of all visa applicants, including online presence review of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications.” Explaining the rationale behind the move, the State Department said the system is designed to bolster national security while keeping the integrity of the visa system intact. The US Embassy in India in June warned visa applicants against cleaning their social media profiles “Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas,” the embassy said on X. Also Read: Jordan Crown Prince personally chauffeurs PM Modi to national museum The decision came amid the ongoing crackdown on immigration by the Trump administration, the US President imposed stricter conditions on the H1B visa programme, making it difficult for job seekers to enter the United States. Beginning September 1, US employers seeking to hire foreign professionals in specialised occupations have to pay $1 lakh supplemental fee for new workers.

The US Department of State has mandated an online presence review for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, a requirement took effect from December 15, as part of expanded screening measures.

Your political opinions online could cost you US visa: Trump administration expands screening for H-1B and H-4 visas

In a significant relief for foreign professionals, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued new guidance on the controversial $100,000 visa application fee, outlining several exemptions. Under the new rules, individuals transitioning to H-1B visa status from other visa categories, such as F-1 student visas, will not be required to pay the fee.&nbsp;Additionally, H-1B holders filing amendments, status changes, or extensions within the US are exempt from the charge, and current visa holders will continue to be allowed entry and exit from the country. The rule applies only to new applicants who are outside the US without a valid H-1B visa. It also includes an online payment option for new applications.&nbsp;The clarification followed just two days after the US Chamber of Commerce, the biggest business organisation of the US, sued the Trump administration over the new rules, labelling it “unlawful," as per the IANS report.<h3>How does the visa fee impact American businesses?</h3>Based on the lawsuit registered in the district court in Washington on Thursday, the plaintiff argued that if the visa fee is implemented, it will affect American businesses and drive them to either dramatically spike their labour costs or hire fewer highly skilled employees for whom domestic replacements are not readily available.&nbsp;It statement further described Trump's September 19 proclamation as “plainly unlawful” and a “boon to America's economic rivals." This marked the second major domestic legal challenge against the new H-1B regulations, after a lawsuit filed by a group of unions, education professionals and religious bodies sued the Trump administration on October 3.&nbsp;Meanwhile, while signing the proclamation in September, Trump had stated that the “incentive is to hire American workers.” This proclamation caused immense confusion as it appears to suggest that it would affect the current H-1B visa holders, who might experience challenges in returning to the United States.&nbsp;The White House clarified on September 20 and assured that this is a “one-time fee” which applies only to new visas and not renewals or current visa holders. Meanwhile, due to a large backlog in approvals and a high number of skilled immigrants, India-born workers received over 70 per cent of the total approved H1-B visas in 2024.

The rule applies only to new applicants who are outside the US without a valid H-1B visa. It also includes an online payment option for new applications. The clarification followed just two days after the US Chamber of Commerce sued the Trump administration over the new rules.

In a significant relief for foreign professionals, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued new guidance on the controversial $100,000 visa application fee, outlining several exemptions. Under the new rules, individuals transitioning to H-1B visa status from other visa categories, such as F-1 student visas, will not be required to pay the fee. Additionally, H-1B holders filing amendments, status changes, or extensions within the US are exempt from the charge, and current visa holders will continue to be allowed entry and exit from the country. The rule applies only to new applicants who are outside the US without a valid H-1B visa. It also includes an online payment option for new applications. The clarification followed just two days after the US Chamber of Commerce, the biggest business organisation of the US, sued the Trump administration over the new rules, labelling it “unlawful," as per the IANS report. How does the visa fee impact American businesses? Based on the lawsuit registered in the district court in Washington on Thursday, the plaintiff argued that if the visa fee is implemented, it will affect American businesses and drive them to either dramatically spike their labour costs or hire fewer highly skilled employees for whom domestic replacements are not readily available. It statement further described Trump's September 19 proclamation as “plainly unlawful” and a “boon to America's economic rivals." This marked the second major domestic legal challenge against the new H-1B regulations, after a lawsuit filed by a group of unions, education professionals and religious bodies sued the Trump administration on October 3. Meanwhile, while signing the proclamation in September, Trump had stated that the “incentive is to hire American workers.” This proclamation caused immense confusion as it appears to suggest that it would affect the current H-1B visa holders, who might experience challenges in returning to the United States. The White House clarified on September 20 and assured that this is a “one-time fee” which applies only to new visas and not renewals or current visa holders. Meanwhile, due to a large backlog in approvals and a high number of skilled immigrants, India-born workers received over 70 per cent of the total approved H1-B visas in 2024.

The rule applies only to new applicants who are outside the US without a valid H-1B visa. It also includes an online payment option for new applications. The clarification followed just two days after the US Chamber of Commerce sued the Trump administration over the new rules.

US clarifies $100,000 H-1B fee rule after lawsuit — Check who gets exemptions and what?

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Your political opinions online could cost you US visa: Trump administration expands screening for H-1B and H-4 visas

US clarifies $100,000 H-1B fee rule after lawsuit — Check who gets exemptions?